Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 Review
Simon Joinson, January 2005

Review based on a production DiMAGE A200

In September 2004 Konica Minolta revealed a slightly surprising new DiMAGE A series digital camera, the DiMAGE A200. Based on the DiMAGE A2 (and predecessor, the A1), the A200 features a new, smaller and more rounded body design, simplified control layout and a flip-out and twist LCD monitor (compared to the A2's tilt-only unit). Otherwise the specifications reveal a slightly cut-back unit which loses some A2 features but improves on others.

Like the A2, the A200 offers a wealth of photographic features, mechanically operated 28-200mm equivalent zoom lens and Konica Minolta's proprietary Anti-Shake technology that employs a unique CCD-shift mechanism (also seen in the recent Dynax 7D digital SLR).

Here's some of the key new features and changes:

• New flip-out and twist LCD monitor (higher resolution 1.8", 134,000 pixels)
• New Electronic viewfinder, no eye sensor, fixed (doesn't tilt)
• New CxProcess™ III image processor
• Larger movie clip mode: 800 x 600 @ 15 fps
• Interpolated digital zoom mode: 4x
• Base sensitivity lower at ISO 50 (compared to ISO 64 on the A2)
• New 'Portrait (sRGB)' color space option
• New pop-up flash, same range, now automatic or manual, no wireless flash
• No PC Sync flash terminal
• New NP-800 Lithium-Ion battery
• Marginally smaller (3 mm narrower, 5 mm shorter)
• Lighter by 60 g (2.1 oz)

Konica Minolta A2 vs A200 (major differences)

	Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200	Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2
Price (street)	$699	$830
ISO sensitivity	Auto, 50,100,200,400,800	Auto, 64,100,200,400,800
Viewfinder	• 0.44 inch 320x240 pixels • –5 to +2 m-1 dioptre control	• 0.44 inch 640x480 pixel • 0-90º adjustment • –3.5 to +1.5 m-1 dioptre control • eye sensor
Shooting modes	JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG	JPEG, RAW, TIFF, RAW+JPEG
LCD	• 1.8-inch, 134,000 pixels • Flip out and twist	• 1.8-inch, 118,000 pixels • Tilting
Motion tracking AF	No	Yes
Multi segment metering	256 segments	300 segments
Max shutter speed	1/3200 sec	1/4000 sec
Movie Mode (Max)	• 800 x 600 @ 15fps • 640 x 480 @ 30fps • Max 15 minutes	• 544 x 408 @ 30fps • Max 6 minutes
Continuous shooting	• 2.3 fps (full size images), 5 frames • 10 fps (640 x 480 images)	• 2.7 fps (full size images), 3 frames • 7 fps (640 x 480 images)
Bracketing options	• Exposure • White Balance	• Exposure • White Balance • Contrast • Saturation • Hue (color)
Interval recording	No	Yes
Flash PC synch terminal	No	Yes
Optional battery pack/ vertical shooting grip	No	Yes
Top plate info LCD	No	Yes
Wireless flash	No	Yes
Wireless remote	Included	Not available
Digital Zoom (Max)	4x	2x
Image Processor	CxProcess III	CxProcess II
Battery	NP-800	NP-400
Weight (inc. battery)	579 g (20.4 oz)	639 g (22.5 oz)
Dimensions	114 x 80 x 115 mm (4.5 x 3.2 x 4.5 in)	117 x 85 x 114 mm (4.6 x 3.4 x 4.5 in)
Other differences	• New Portrait (sRGB) color space • Flash now has auto mode • No voice memo option • All-plastic body

Key specifications

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2004 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.